WNMU faces many strategic challenges and opportunities that have been defined
by the annual strategic planning process and refined during the Strategy Forum
preparation. A summary is provided below. These are in no particular order.

The Opportunities include:

Growth in New Mexico's population will increase
demand for higher education

Continued
high value placed on low student-to-teacher ratio that allows greater student-faculty
interaction

Distance education opportunities provide
opportunities for new ways of doing old things and new ways of providing access
to students from all walks of life

Hispanics make up over fifty percent of expected
future high school graduates in NM, with that percentage expected to grow

Numbers of grant opportunities for HSI institutions
is growing

Growing demand for teacher education, whether
in traditional or other formats

Lottery
scholarships provide funding for students who maintain a 2.5 or better

WNMU's history of having the lowest tuition
and fees of the four year institutions

New facilities at the off-campus sites expand
and enrich the opportunities to provide educational programs

Pre-university
programs at the campus sites provide opportunities for future students

Memoranda of understanding with Mexican universities
provide

Collaborative relationships with existing
industries, businesses, and government agencies enrich the educational program

New construction on campus will provide a
Global Resource/Information Technology Center, expanded childcare program
prospects, athletic facilities, and enhanced infrastructure.